Former Rep. Mark Schauer announced his gubernatorial campaign in late May, rejuvenating Democratic hopes of defeating GOP Gov. Rick Snyder in Michigan next year.

Schauer defeated GOP Rep. Tim Walberg, 49 percent to 46 percent, in 2008. He then lost to Walberg, 50 percent to 45 percent in a 2010 rematch. In spite of his loss, Schauer should give Democrats a credible candidate to take on the governor.

Snyder was elected with a whopping 58 percent in 2010. Of course, that was a great Republican year: His was the largest percentage for a non-incumbent Republican nominee for governor since Kim Sigler in 1946.

But Snyder’s first term has been a bit rocky, and Democrats believe the governor overreached by pushing right-to-work legislation. Schauer will still need to raise considerable money to compete with the incumbent, who is personally wealthy.

We’re moving the race from Tossup/Tilt Republican to Pure Tossup in the Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call ratings.